I found this May 2014 post from ‘Topsy’. I think I know who ‘Topsy’ is but to date s/he hasn’t owned up! Clue is in the name for anyone trying to guess. A really good post though…

My local Council seniors group advertised that they would be having Ukulele lessons but unfortunately I was still working at that stage and as the classes were to be held during working hours, I wasn’t able to attend.

I did some “Googling” and found that there was a Hobart Ukulele Group who met at a local hotel at 6:30 – 8pm on Monday nights, so I decided to venture along and check them out.

I was made very welcome and nobody laughed at the toy uke which had been discarded by my kids which I took along.

They all sat around a large table and everybody took it their turn to select a song, which we ALL played and sang together, from the music sheets they had all downloaded previously.

I came home on such a high after such a good singalong that I convinced my better half to come along and now after about 18 months we are proficient strummers. I’ve even bought a “real” ukulele!

You only have to learn about half a dozen chords and you will be able to play so many songs you’ll be surprised that you didn’t start earlier. If the songs your group is playing have chords you don’t know, then you’ll become an expert “air ukulele” player like I’ve become during those parts of the song 🙂

We’ve met some great friends, had some great times playing at school fairs and festivals as a large group and nobody really cares how well anybody plays – its all about enthusiasm rather than ability!!!

From time to time we have had visitors drop in to the Republic Hotel on Monday nights to have a strum with us whilst holidaying in Tasmania and as we are about to go “grey nomad”-ing for a month or three, we have new friends to catch up with as we travel around the “big island”.

My tip – if you find an opportunity to take up the uke, grab it with both hands and as long as you don’t take yourself too seriously (which is hard to do with a uke!) you’ll be happier than you ever thought you could be!!!!